The Kabardians (Kabardian: Къэбэрдей адыгэхэр; Adyghe language: Къэбэртай адыгэхэр; ) or Kabardinians are one of the twelve major Circassians tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag.
Despite the Soviet-era administrative divisions that placed Circassians under four different designations and political units, namely Adygeans (Circassians in Adygea), Cherkessians (Circassians in Karachay-Cherkessia), Kabardians (Circassians in Kabardino-Balkaria), and Shapsugs (Circassians in Krasnodar Krai), all four groups are essentially the same people (Circassians). Furthermore, Cherkessians are mostly of the Kabardian and Besleney tribes.
Population
Kabardians are the largest Circassian group in the world in general and form the largest group in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and other countries. Kabardians numbered around 520,000 in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia,
and about 50,000 in Karachay-Cherkessia in Russia. In Turkey, where more than 1 million live,
they are concentrated on the Uzunyayla plateau of
Kayseri Province and around central Turkey. However, there are Kabardian villages in Balıkesir, Düzce, Eskişehir in northwest Turkey, Çorum,
Samsun, and
Tokat in the Black Sea region, amongst many others. Significant populations of Kabardians also live in
Jordan,
and there are communities in the United States. In Israel and Jordan, respectively, Shapsugs and Abzakhs are the largest groups.
Religion
Religions historically practiced by Kabardians include the native
Adyghe Xabze faith,
Christianity and
Islam. The majority of Kabardians had converted to Islam by the early 19th century. There are also still some adherents to traditional Xabze beliefs, with 1.8% of Kabardians practicing in Kabardino-Balkaria, although most Kabardians are either Non-denominational or
Sunni Islam of the
Hanafi school
[ "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia". Sreda, 2012.][ 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. Archived.]
Kabardians also constituted one of the earliest Christian communities in Europe, converting in the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries. Kabardians living in Mozdoksky District in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania are Orthodox Christians.[ Arena – Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia. Sreda.org][ 2012 Survey Maps . "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 24-09-2012.]
Notable Kabardians
File:Naglaa Fathy.jpg
File:Leila Fawzy.jpg
File:Hind Rostom.jpg
File:Mariam Fakhr Eddine.jpg
File:Tharwat Zubaida.jpg
File:Türkan Şoray, 2014.jpg
File:Farida Queen of Nile.jpg
File:Nefise Karatay.jpg
File:Leïla Hagondokoff.jpg
File:Aleksey Mikhailovich Tcherkassky.PNG
File:Arslan Bey Toguz.jpg
File:Youssef Zulficar Pasha.png
File:Yuri Temirkanov and Vladimir Putin - 14 December 2013 - 1 (crop).jpg
File:Armande Altaï 2010.jpg
File:Hussein Fahmy.JPG
File:Ufa-Mordovia (1).jpg
File:Cherkassky v2 p9.gif
File:Facial Chronicle - b.23, p. 097.jpg
File:Facial Chronicle - b.23, p. 100.jpg
File:Maria Temryukovna's ring.jpg
See also
